Taulava wishes Alapag went to NLEX, but happy of pal’s return

Asi Taulava FILE PHOTO

If it were up to Asi Taulava, he would have loved to have Jimmy Alapag make his return with him in NLEX.

“I was hoping that he would come to NLEX,” the 2003 PBA MVP said. “But I’m happy that he’s back. It’s always a great feeling when your pal comes back.”

Though bummed that the Road Warriors missed out on a potential Taulava-Alapag reunion, the 6-foot-9 big man is happy with the way things turned out for the Gilas captain.

“Meralco got a great point guard, a legend. He’s gonna turn things around for Meralco,” he said. “Now it makes sense why he’s killing himself in practice. He’s coming back and that’s great for the PBA.”

Taulava said he understands Alapag’s urge to return seven months after he hung up his sneakers.

“It’s always hard for players to walk away,” he said. “If you walk away and keep yourself busy, it makes it easier. But when you walk away and you become team manager, still working out, still sees these guys competing and going to war every day, that itch is there and it will start growing. I think that fire got back into him and he stayed in shape. Every time I see him, he doesn’t look retired. He always put up shots and definitely, the fire is still burning.”